Painting Tang Jiao

Chapter 3
After the eldest wife presided over the daily banquet in the mansion, she got the servant girl's report and went to the second girl's yard.A quarter of an hour later, the eldest lady hurried away again.

In Rongshou Hall, the old lady squinted her eyes and leaned on the roof, holding a jade sachet in her hand. The jade is warm and delicate, and it is even more white and crystal clear under the candlelight.The jade sachet was about the size of an ordinary jade tablet, with a finely hollowed surface and a hollow body, in which flowers, spices and other things could be placed.The whole piece of jade cup is carved into an oblate shape that can be snapped together, and the front and back of the sachet are carved with seven and four herons playing among the lotus and lotus respectively.The blooming lotus is full and thick, and the heron is even more vivid.If Qing Huan was there, she immediately found out that this jade sachet was sent to the second girl by Mancao.

"Old lady, what do you mean by that girl? Did you give me this jade sachet?" All the servants in the room were taken out, leaving only the old lady and the eldest lady.The eldest lady waited for a while when the old lady did not speak, and then said aloud.

"Didn't Qian Huan say that it was delivered by someone on her way back. I checked today, and she only had such a valuable thing with her." The old lady said.

"But..." The eldest lady continued to speak.

The old lady lay back on the couch and said to the eldest lady: "Anyway, if you give this jade sachet to Qian Huan, that matter will be easier to handle. I thought it might take some time, but it was just for Qian Huan's sake." If you plan to fight this old face, you have to find a way to get them to agree. Now that you have this token, let's settle things early."

Speaking of business, the eldest lady didn't say much about the topic just now, and said seriously: "I heard that this month's No. 16 will go to Baohua Temple to offer incense. I have already asked someone to send a post to let me know."

"How could it be sixteen?" The old lady was taken aback.

"I said I was impatient with too many people, so I chose NO.16 to be cleaner."

There are eminent monks sitting in Baohua Temple, and many people go to offer incense on the first and fifteenth day of every month.

"Don't let them get the news from the second bedroom." The old lady ordered.

If the second room gets the news, this matter is afraid that it will be out of control.The eldest wife naturally does not allow anyone to destroy matters related to her daughter.Thinking of Erfang's recent actions, the eldest wife sneered in her heart, really thinking of her identity.It's just that the old man's official position is inconvenient to manage the common affairs outside the house, but he has taken himself too seriously after a long time.No matter how capable a concubine is, can he be as good as a concubine, let alone three... .The eldest wife trembled in her heart, and hurriedly stopped herself, not to think about it.

The old lady didn't notice the look of the eldest lady, and asked: "During the day, the fourth girl asked about going to burn incense."

"I knew they were uneasy and kind." The eldest lady said angrily.

"What did you know with them? Anyway, you are still the head of the house. It's just a small gesture. Why are you so restless." The old lady scolded.

The eldest lady was shocked, stood up and said aggrievedly: "Old lady, I only love a girl, can I not take care of her affairs. Don't talk about the second room, you also know the master..." The old lady glared angrily, big The wife said embarrassingly: "If the old lady hadn't protected us all these years, the mother and daughter of the three girls would have climbed on top of us."

Thinking of the bad things going on in the elder son's room, the old lady eased her tone, and said in a warm voice: "No matter how much they move, they are just taking up the status of a concubine. You have children and daughters, so what are you afraid of? As long as you don't make mistakes, the young lady What can Auntie do to you. The left is just an extra money and a dowry in the future."

"Aunt." The eldest wife's eyes turned red, and she whispered the address before she left the cabinet.

The old lady sighed: "I promised my brother and sister-in-law to protect you, but I can't protect you forever. You should also restrain your temper and don't conflict with your master. Be soft when you should be soft. Being a woman depends on you. My own husband."

Seeing that the eldest lady did not speak, the old lady stopped persuading her and let her think about it in her heart. This kind of thing can only be done if she can figure it out, and she should listen to how others persuade her.The old lady returned the jade sachet in her hand to the eldest lady.

"Although this jade sachet will not be taken back after it is given to the second girl. But let her take it around the mansion more in the next few days."

The eldest lady nodded. The old lady wanted people to know that the jade sachet belonged to the second girl, and others would not be able to snatch it even if they wanted to.

"As for Seventh Girl..."

The eldest wife said: "I think she is just out of filial piety, and her clothes are all plain. I was thinking that the embroiderer would make some new clothes for her early in the past few days."

The old lady nodded, she was just sending some fresh jewelry over here.

"I thought about it for a while about offering incense. It's no fun to be on guard all the time. When you go to Baohua Temple in a few days, you will take their sisters there."

The eldest lady raised her eyes, her eyes were full of disbelief.

"I will make arrangements, you just need to rest assured. Didn't they say that the camellias are beautiful, just let them go around with the maids. Baohua Temple says it's not big, but after a visit, you can finish your fast and go back home. Wei After all, it’s not good for a girl who has left the cabinet to stay outside for a long time.”

"Yes." Seeing what the old lady said, the eldest lady could only suppress her dissatisfaction, thinking that she would just find someone to watch them.

The old lady looked tired, so the eldest lady took her leave.

After the people left, the old lady opened her eyes, and the tiredness just now was gone.

"You heard what the eldest lady and I said." The old lady's expression was calm.

"The son is ashamed of his mother, and wants the mother to be sad for the son." A person turned out from behind the side door in the corner of the room, and it was the master of the Yan residence.

"I know that the eldest wife has a strong temper and won't be flexible. But after all, she is the wife you are marrying. If you don't give me the face that should be given, she is not alone. Since ancient times, this censor has not only looked at The political achievements of the officials ordered by the imperial court are also included in the affairs of the back house. How can you sweep the world if you don’t sweep a house, if you can’t even control the affairs of your family, how can you be trusted in the officialdom.”

The elder was ashamed: "Mother taught me that. If Madam can tolerate Aunt Qing, my son will not give him shame. It's just that she is narrow-minded and can't tolerate others. If her son didn't protect her, Aunt Qing, mother and son would be afraid It's a loss."

"If you don't tolerate people, how can the mother and daughter of Aunt Liu in your house live well? If that Aunt Qing is honest, you wouldn't be making trouble in the house now."

The old man remained silent, if Aunt Qing was as dull and boring as Liu Shi, how could he dote on her.It's just that I dare not say this, Mrs. Liu was the maid who served the old lady when the old lady decided to let him take over the house when the wife was pregnant.At first, it was a bit fresh, but after a long time, I felt like a wooden person, which made the old man boring.And Aunt Qing was a gift from her colleagues, so she was the most proud of knowing it.Comparing the two, the Elder Master's heart naturally leans towards Aunt Qing.

"Don't bother your mother to force you. You have to think about which of your two sons is the most promising. You can't make Wei'er feel cold." The old lady knew the old man's temper and knew that she couldn't be forced He just persuaded in a gentle voice.

Speaking of the eldest son, the old man smiled.Yan Wei has been smart since she was a child. Although she is only 15 years old now, she passed the examination of scholar early a year ago.

"Last year, although you were promoted to an official position, it was only an obvious promotion and a secret resignation. Speaking of which, you have not been promoted in the past few years, and now you have passed the age of forty. If you don't work hard, there will be a slight difference. Stay still on the official rank." Mrs. Yan said.

The elder's face was red, and after a while he said: "My son is not filial, he has no honor for his family."

"Forget it, I've been planning something for you. Otherwise, you three..." Old Madam Yan closed her eyes, and said nothing more.

The room fell silent.

The elder walked to the coffee table and brought the teacup to Old Madam Yan.

Old Madam Yan opened her eyes, took the teacup, gently stirred the tea leaves, and said after a while, "You don't have to do this, since I have made a decision, I will not change it, and I will not allow any of us to change it. We are slowly discussing your matter. Your father still has a lot of connections, and he wanted to save them for future needs. It just seems that it is necessary to ask them to help. Only you, this face Only the government can do well. But the most urgent thing at the moment is to get the second girl's marriage settled first."

"Will they agree?" the elder hesitated.

The old lady scolded: "Your father bought this marriage with his life. Why don't you agree? We, the eldest daughter of the Yan family, are not good enough for them. If they break their promises, I will sue them to the Golden Palace." Her granddaughter It is the orthodox direct line of the Yan family, it is the old lady who is partial, and the old lady Yan has a fierce look in her eyes.

She spoke in a hurry, and the old lady panted slightly.

For what the old lady said, the old man laughed in his heart.

"This marriage must be done, otherwise..."

The old man's eyes flashed, and he said sincerely: "Mother, don't worry, I think that family will not do things that are treacherous."

Only then did the old lady turn pale, and she just gave the old man a meaningful look.

The elder stood with his head down, and said in a low voice: "Mother, don't worry, the son will take good care of Aunt Qing. It's just that the eldest wife still needs to trouble the mother." The elder was impatient with the elder lady, if the old lady did not order the He had long since left her cold about this matter of concern.

"What's troublesome is not troublesome. Mothers don't think about their children. You just go." The old lady Yan closed her mouth and didn't want to say any more. She waved her hand and told the old man to leave.

The room fell silent again, and Chunzhi walked in quietly.The old lady was lying on the couch with her eyes closed.Chun Zhi picked up the blanket in the corner and shook it lightly, and covered the old lady.

Just about to leave, the old lady's lips moved.

Chunzhi couldn't hear clearly, so he took a few steps closer, trying to lower his head to hear more clearly.The old lady was breathing quietly and calmly, and did not speak again.

Chun Zhi shook his head, put aside the doubts about that sentence, and went out to do something.

"Xiao Liushi..."

(End of this chapter)